just a bad deal for the C's. nothing of real value coming back for 2 productive players that can start for a decent team.
what I don't see here is a reason to make this bad of a deal. none. The C's would still be saddled with Wallace, the team would otherwise be devoid of any good vet influence on the incoming youth except for Rondo, Gordon is just an expiring deal with no reason to resign him even to a smaller deal, Taylor is having health issues and the Portland pick is so late it might as well be a second rounder but the reality is it's worse than a second rounder since that late first is a guaranteed contract
what i don't see here is an understanding of assets.
~ that Gordon is expiring is the reason to trade for him.
~ that a first round pick (in a deep draft) is locked in at cheap money is not a negative, assuming you even keep the pick instead of packaging it in a deal.
~ veteran influence? what about Hump, Anthony, Wallace, Rondo? Bass is just learning the word "pass" and Green shows up ready to play about once a week. because they're older doesn't make them leaders.
~ because we're "saddled" with Wallace's contract, we shouldn't trade other overpriced veterans? then why did Ainge trade Lee for nothing? as I already pointed out, the Cs would be $20MM+ below the salary cap this summer after this deal... which means they wouldn't be saddled at all.
maybe you just prefer to keep these mediocre players. understandable. if not, i seriously doubt the Cs can get more than a low first round pick for either, especially if they get salary relief -- which is exactly what they get here for each.
and you obviously underestimate what Ainge could do with the combination of tons of cap space and tons of picks.